Torch.



H. J. ORTH, JR.

v TORCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I3, I918. 1,291,096. Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

/l7 H111; FlllZ.

.1 M Lit \Z; W 3

INVENTOR @5 55 m W1 M Mr n QWXJLLM l The means now HENRY JEWETT ORTH, JR., 0! SEWICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

'roncn.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

Application filed August 18. 1918. Serial No. 249.655.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY Jnwe'r'r ORTH, J r., residing at- Sewickley, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented. or

' discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Torches, of which improvements the following is a specification.

T he. invention described herein relates to improvements in torches for illuminating distant areas, such as the enemies trenches. enerally employed consists of a hollow shell charged with combustible material which is i nited by a fuse. It has been found that a arge percentage of such shells will so lodge that the discharge opening rests on the ground thus reducing the illumination. The invention herein described has for its object a construction of torch having a spur or point located in such relation to the opening through which the burning gases esca e, that such openin will be uppermost so t at the gases Willa ways escape freely. The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. Fi re 1 is a sectional elevation of a torch em odying my improvement and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the torch havin a feathered stem for guiging and steadymg the torch while in n the practice of the invention, the body of the torch is formed preferably by a sheet metal tube having one end permanently closed. While the closure may be effected in any suitable manner, theclosed end weight ed and the means employed for supporting the torch in vertical position attached in any suitable manner, it 1s preferred to employ a pointed pin 2 for supporting means, said pin being made of suc size and weight as to insure the torchs dropping in a vertical position and to close the end of the tubular body portion by the large end of the pin. The pin may be secured to the tubular body in any suitable manner. but referably by forming a boss or head 3 on t e end of the pin adapted to fit tightly in the tube and ending the edge of the tube into a groove formed around the base of the boss or head.

The tube is filled u to within a short distance of its upper en with any suitable material known in the art capable of producing. during ombustion. a large flame of high illuminating character, as for example a mixture of magnesium, sulfur and fuse powder. On top of this combustible charge is placed a relatively small quantity of su1table material as fuse powder -t capable of beinoignited by suitable means employed for igniting the ehargesot shells, etc. In most cases, means operative immediately on the landing of the torch and by percussion are. to be preferred. and hence while not limitin; the invention thereto, an impact means for igniting the powder are shown herein, A plug is forced into the tube so as to bear on the powder 4. This plug is provided with a socket in which is arranged a block 6 having a small pointed projection 7 on its underside, adapted when the block is shifted. as herein described. to strike a cap 8 charged with fuhninato and arranged in a. recess in the bottom of the socket and communicating with the powder charge 4. This block 6 is normally supported with its projection 7 out of contact with the cap by a spring 9, which, however, will yield when the movement of the torch is arrested. and allow the projection 7 to strike and ignite the cap.

The block is held within the socket by a thin disk 10 arranged in a depression in the end of the plug and held in position by turning over the edges of the wall of the depression. In order to prevent the. accidental movement of the block or hammer, a piece of easily frangible wire 11 is passed through the tube, plug and block as shown in Fig. 1.

This block may be thrown by hand, by a bow or other suitable means, when the area to be illuminated is relatively distant. In order to steady and guide the torch, a feathered shaft 12 may be secured to the torch as shown in Fig. 2. The forward end of the tube. being weighted. the torch will land in a vertical position and the point entering the ground will support. the torch with the plug end 11 permost. When the movement of the tore is arrested. the hammer will have sufiicient momentum to shear the safety wire. compress the spring and force the mint against the cap. exploding the same.

y the explosion of the tulminate and the igniting of the powder. sutlicient pressure is generated to force the plug out of the torch so that the flame from the combustible material may issue freely from the open end of the torch.

I claim herein as my invention:

1. A projectable torch having in combination a shell for the reception of a combustible material, means exterior to the shell and secured thereto for causing the torch when thrown to assume and alight in a substantially vertical position and an inertia means independent 0 means operative on the arrest of movement of the torch to ignite the combustible material.

2. A projectable torch having in combination a 'tubular shell for the reception of a. combustible material, means for causing the torch to alight in a substantially vertical position, a plug closing the end uppermost when the torch has alighted and ada ted to be 'forced out by pressure of gas Witilin the shell, and means carried by the plug for i niting'the combustible material in the shel 3. A projectable torch having in combination a shell for the reception of a combustible material, means for maintaining the shell in-a substantially vertical position dur ing the combustion of the material in the shell, a plug closing the end uppermost after the directing or supporting the torch has alighted and adapted to be forced out by the pressure of gas withinthe shell, and means carried by the plug for igniting the combustible material.

4. A projectable torch having in combination a tubular shell, a weighted spur or point at one end of the shell a plug closing the opposite end of the shell and adapted to be forced out by )ressure of gases generated within the shell, and means carried by the plu for igniting the combustible material in the sh ll.

5, A projectable torch having in combination a tubular shell, a weighted spur or point at one end of the shell, a plug closing the opposite end of the shell and adapted to be forced out by the pressure of gases generated within the shell and means for igniting the charge carried by the plug and operative on the arrest of the movement of the torch.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY J EWETT ORTH, JR. 

